WHY HAVE HOPE?

"...I, just like everyone else, feel the weight of things in a painful way... Sometimes our own personal struggles are more than enough to deal with, and all our energy goes toward making it through the day...

"Then there's the world of course, and that's what I'm feeling in a darker way now.. Start with sexism, racism, homophobia, the greed of the powerful few, and work our way to climate change. Throw in the current wars (Russian/Ukraine & Israel/Hamas...and the inability to get anything done regarding the things that really matter (a realistic discussion about gun safety for example), and it starts to feel pretty desolate...

Brian goes on to talk about the exploitation and struggles of the people of Haiti. (So why do I have hope?) "It's really very simple, but it's everything; I have hope, because I believe--no, I know in the depths of my soul--that God IS, and that God IS Love... And that means that no matter what happens in my personal life or in this beautifully crazy world, that it will all culminate with LOVE, and the presence and power of LOVE will be with us and among us and through us at every moment no matter what happens, and that God will give us the grace to face whatever we have to face no matter what that is......

So I've got hope, and at least some degree of joy... It's not a feeling. It's a decision..

Read his complete reflection here.

From Rev. Brian Sirchio, pastor of McFarland UCC

Used with his permission

OUR CONGREGATIONS

MOVE INTO ADVENT

Windsor UCC is helping its members pursue a better way to prepare for Christmas than just engaging is the exhausting round of tasks. They will focus on the book, Prepare the Way for the Lord: Advent and the Message of John the Baptist, by Adam Hamilton.

In a four-week series, 1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, is exploring the role that women have played, from the Exodus story to today, in the liberating movement of God toward life, justice and freedom for all people.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, will have Advent midweek worship on Wednesday evenings. On the 1st Sunday in Advent they will have a Worshipful Concert of Small, Dancing Light by Taylor Scott Davis.

Several of our congregations will have Advent workshops, gift-making or wreath-making events, including Salem UCC, Verona; Memorial UCC, Fitchburg (also a gingerbread nativity set making activity); Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison; Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison; Middleton Community UCC and 1st Congregational UCC, Madison.

Salem UCC, Verona, will also have an Illuminated Advent Path for members to walk.

St. John's UCC, Monroe, is inviting its members to provide their nativity scenes to display in their library during the Christmas season.

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, has a falls prevention exercise class twice a week.

McFarland UCC has shared a request from the Madison Area Jail Ministry, that persons can donate their gently used winter coats, hats, gloves or boots to incarcerated persons.

1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, has put out a plea for the donation of children's coats.

Salem UCC, Verona, partnered with FB4K Madison to donate bicycles

Swiss UCC, New Glarus, is sending stamped Christmas cards to incarcerated persons in the Green County jail, so they can send then send the cards to their family members.

1st Congregational UCC, Janesville, hosted Spencer Layjoye in concert.

The worship of Swiss UCC, New Glarus, featured singer/songwriter Dan Holmes relating to the presence of God in our world today.

Swiss UCC, New Glarus, has provided an ongoing support of children in El Salvador, currently 52 in all. to help them deal with the challenges of paying for food and bus fare. During the 20+ years of the program, 25 students have graduated with technical or college degrees and found employment in their fields.

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, had a special opportunity for their children and youth to participate in a labyrinth walk and contemplative practice/prayer stations.

.Lake Edge UCC, Madison also honored veterans

The Racial Justice Ministries team of McFarland UCC sponsored the November 18 visit to McFarland of Mark Charles, a person of Navajo ancestry and indigenous author. Some of congregations and our Wisconsin Conference were co-sponsors.

Word has just been received that an anonymous pledge of $100,000 has been made to the Conference's campaign for UCCI, our outdoor ministries at Daycholah Center and Moon Beach Camp. You can learn more at ucci.org/ignite-generosity.

In addition to those mentioned in the November Shalom, these congregations observed Totenfest or a Remembrance Sunday: Memorial UCC, Fitchburg; Congregational UCC, Mineral Point; Salem UCC, Verona and Congregational UCC, Edgerton.

1st UCC, Belleville, observed Thirty Days of Thankfulness during November

These congregations had community or ecumenical Thanksgiving worship services: Congregational UCC, Evansville; Washington Reformation UCC; Zwingli UCC, Monticello; Zwingli UCC, Paoli; 1st UCC, Belleville; St. John's UCC, Monroe and MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison.

To deal with a variety of life issues, such as the empty nest syndrome, a group in 1st Congregational UCC, Fort Atkinson (Seeking Meaning in Living Every Day), has begun meeting to share experiences and ideas.

1st Congregational UCC, Madison, is offering a Caregiver Support Group by Zoom on the last Sunday of each month

1st Congregational UCC, Madison, has begun a series of meetings to relate to different perspectives on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The first was with Rabbis Jonathan Biatch and Bonnie Margulis.

1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, called attention to a roundtable program of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries on how churches and faith leaders can meet the need for mental health awareness. and support.

The Congregational UCC, Evansville, called attention to the availability of free therapy for persons struggling with depression or other mental health issues.

Middleton Community UCC has rebuilt its Little Free Library and Little Free Pantry structures.

Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, recently had a presentation on Active Threat Preparedness by a member of the Dane County Emergency Management.

Following a three-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, St. John's UCC, Monroe, is having a German worship service to honor their ethnic roots.

Honoring their commitment to be accessible and inclusive of all, 1st Congregational UCC, Madison, recently completed an expensive repair and renovation of their elevator ($215,000)

Dealing with declining membership, Plymouth Congregational UCC, Dodgeville, recently invited members of 1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, to tour their facilities.

Zwingli UCC, Monticello, has invited Peace Valley Lutheran Church (LCMS), start-up congregation, to worship in their building

Zwingli UCC, Mount Vernon, had a Creation Justice worship to begin their discussion about being a Creation Justice Church. They also hosted a free community potluck

1st Congregational UCC, Madison, has been revisiting and appreciating their history by compiling memories in a slide binder available for members to borrow.

As a part of the confirmation program of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, the confirmands and their parents will go to Deer Park Buddhist Center in Oregon.

By hosting their first shopping boutique, Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, is also promoting the Ethical Trading Company

Middleton Community UCC will again provide dinners for Healing House residents.

Lake Edge UCC/Alliance @4200, Madison, will provide a meal at Luke House.

Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, will again provide Care packages for college students as they head into final exams.

The Congregational UCC, Whitewater provides college students there with a weekly noon meal.; They also recently provided a free community meal.

Rev. Kris Gorton, pastor of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, led a Slow Walk, a moving meditation, in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hahn, that is beginning to spread across the country.

Members of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, are being asked to provide a meal and walk the dog of a member who recently had successful back surgery and is facing a long road of recovery.

PASTORAL TRANSITIONS

Rev. Sandra Schieble began as Interim Minister at Olivet Congregational UCC, Columbus, on November 19.

Bill Whitford has begun as licensed Interim Minister at Emerald Grove UCC.

Peter Morris will conclude his interim ministry at 1st Congregational UCC, Platteville, on December 31.

THE ROAD TO DECLINE

IS PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS

Your editor, who reads church newsletters, is troubled that several of our Association churches are facing declining attendance and financial support (probably in part due to the pandemic) and being faced with difficult decisions.

I have long been a frugal person, so it was with a chastening sense that I recently read a piece by Rev. Andrew Warner in the Wisconsin Conference's Generosity Forward. Andrew pointed out that when a church is faced with declining membership, attendance and financial support, its natural inclination is to reduce its mission support to deal with the issue.

However, he pointed out that this can be self-defeating. "Congregations can become insular... A church experiences a tight financial moment. A leader says this is a crisis that requires cuts. The church reduces its mission expenses. And the people who had connected with the church because of its work in the community now stopped coming..

"(Then) programs are reduced. and people who attend because of those programs don't stick around. Now, the church leader feels fear. The congregation reduces staff. The full-time pastor goes part-time... And that means that when a person stops in to visit the church on Sunday, there isn't much mission or program going on. And there isn't a pastor to make a follow-up call.., so preserving the building took over as the reason for the being of the church.

"Recently, one pastor shared with me how a longtime church member responded to the insular priorities of her congregation. Mama Ruby, as she was known, listened to all the talk about budget cuts. And then she said, 'God called us to fish for people, but all you do is care for an aquarium.'" Read his complete message.

As a former local church pastor, I can relate to the difficult decisions that a church must face. I wish you all well.

ONE DAY

By Christine Evangelou

One day, you will heal

One day, you will be grateful for the

deepest cuts of pain

One day, you will glance at yourself

And see a stronger person through

your reflection

One day, you will kiss away your hurt

...gently, and with grace

Until then, use it all to propel you forward

Like a white-hot pyre through your star-

spangled eyes

A fire to regenerate every shadowy cell

And open your heart to every experience

Knowing that one day

You will search your heart

And understand that love if the only thing

to ever hold onto

WANT ADS

1st Congregational UCC, Fort Atkinson is seeking a part-time Organist/Pianist, which normally takes 2-3 hours per seek. Call them at (920) 563-4802 for more information.

1st Congregational UCC, Janesville, is

looking for a part-time Director of Music, one who is eager to bring a fresh approach to Christian worship. The Director leads the vocal choir and bell choir. In its recruitment in the community, it auditions high school Music Scholars. Read more about it here.

MCC/Community of Hope UCC, Madison, is seeking a permanent, part-time Director of Children and Family Ministries to work 10-20 hours/week.

CONGREGATIONS DISCUSS

BOOKS AND MOVIES

The Seekers Book Club of 1st Congregational UCC, Janesville, will discuss Seeking Enlightenment Hat by Hat, by Nevada Barr.

Providing background for the co-author's visit, Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery, by Mark Charles and Soong-Chen Rah, will be the focus of Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison

The December book of Lake Edge UCC, Madison's, book group will be A Memory of Violets: A Novel of London's Flower Sellers, by Hazel Gaynor.

The book group of Memorial UCC, Fitchburg, discussed The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois, by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers.

The Palestine Justice Mission Team of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, encouraged members to watch the film, Roadmap to Apartheid and then discuss it at church.

Java & Jesus of Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison, discussed Reclaiming the Stolen Earth: An Africana Ecotheology, by Jawanza Eric Clark.

CONTACTS

Associate Conference Minister:  

Rev. Rachel Bauman

608-630-2992

Moderator: 

David Mickle

Vice-Moderator:

Rev. Tanya Sadagopan

Secretary:

Marlea Gilbert

Treasurer:

Donald Taft

Division on Church & Ministry: 

Rev. Ruth Bradshaw, Chair

Social Concerns Committee: 

Jessica Taft, Interim Chair

Shalom Editor:

Roger Brooks

swacommunications@gmail.com